Gulf Coast E-news

The United States House-Senate Conference Committee today approved the Transportation Appropriations Bill that includes funding for the Galveston Downtown Transportation Terminal and the Galveston Railroad Causeway Project. With the approval of both houses of Congress and the conference committee, the bill now goes to President George W. Bush for his signature.

"We have been waiting for this day for a long time," said transportation consultant Barry Goodman, who credited Congressman Ron Paul for supporting the inclusion of the Galveston projects in the legislation, and Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas who recently led a delegation of local officials to Washington. Listen Download

"It is a great tribute, not only to Barry Goodman and his crew in Washington, but we are especially grateful to Ron Paul for his support of the bill," said Mayor Thomas. "We look forward to getting our transportation terminal off the ground and built." Listen Download

Tom Lizardo, Paul's chief of staff in Washington said that the Congressman is pleased that the bill is on the way to the President's desk for his signature. Listen Download

"He has been aggressively seeking the funding for these projects and others in the Galveston area since taking that part of the district into the Fourteenth District and is very pleased that these projects are being funded," Lizardo said in an interview with Guidry News Service.

The legislation also includes funding for major projects in Jefferson County, Harris County and other areas in the Gulf Coast Region, as well as the Interstate 69 Project.

Houston Mayor Bill White is holding a news conference this afternoon to discuss federal transportation funding.

Galveston City Council on Thursday voted to appoint former commissioner Eddie Barr to the Gulf Coast Water Authority Board of Directors to replace James D. Yarbrough, who did not seek reappointment.

The city council reappointed Harris "Shrub" Kempner, Fred Micks and Bill Rider to the Galveston Finance and Fiscal Affairs Committee. The vote was unanimous, except that Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas abstained on Kempner's appointment.

The city council named Finance Director Jeff Miller to the Galveston Island Redevelopment Authority to replace Susan Cutchin.

The city council reappointed George Christy and Dan Blanchard to the Mayor's Airport Advisory Committee, and appointed Jim Riley to the committee.

Thomas reappointed Reverend Kerry Tillman and Billie Hoskins to the Galveston Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.

Thomas appointed Mike Miller to the City of Galveston Employee Pension Plan for Non-Civil Service Employees.

The city council voted to reduce the number of members of the Intermodal Transportation Committee from eleven to nine.

The city council approved a joint use agreement with the Galveston Youth Soccer Club for scheduling park activities and maintaining the Sandhill Crane Soccer Park.

The city council approved an interlocal agreement with the Galveston Independent School District "to use its best efforts to provide a sufficient number of school buses and drivers to Island Transit for the purpose of providing transportation in the case of emergency mandatory evacuation".

The city council approved an amended mutual release and settlement agreement between the plaintiffs in the City of Wharton, City of Pasadena and City of Galveston, Texas v. Houston Lighting & Power Company and Houston Industries Finance, Inc. lawsuit, "at no additional cost to the city".

The city council voted to reject all bids for the remodeling of the City Secretary and Mayor's Office Suite Project.

"Currently at this time the building maintenance city staff has actively taken part in demolishing the requested remodeling area," said Purchasing Supervisor Art Lopez, in a memorandum to the city council, noting that all bids came in significantly higher than the $90,000 estimate.

"If we are to consider allowing our city building maintenance staff to go on and remodel the project area that was previously bid, we could put ourselves in an embarrassing situation with the local contractors who bid for the project," Lopez said. "We should consider having city council reject all bids due to cost."

The city council deferred action on extension of an agreement for auditing services by Null-Lairson, following a discussion of the proposal in workshop. Listen Download

All other agenda items were approved. Joe Jaworski and Barbara Roberts were absent.

Police Chief Kenny Mack reported to the city council that his investigation of alleged police brutality by Sheridan Lorenz "has shown that the physical and chemical force used to subdue Mr. Woods and take him into custody were necessary and reasonable under the facts and circumstances known to the officers at the time of the arrest.” Listen Download

Santa Fe City Council on Thursday voted to award a three-year contract for residential solid waste collection services to AmeriWaste, which submitted the lowest of five bids.

"This is a relatively new company," said Mayor Ralph Stenzel. "But, what's interesting is that the owners of the new company were the people who used to own IESI."

The city council approved the final reading of an ordinance adding stops signs on Ash Road near Runge Park.

The city council voted to reappoint Jack Long, Barbara Wells and Kim Holliday to the Mae S. Bruce Library Advisory Board.

Pasadena City Council on Tuesday voted 8-1, with Ralph Riggs opposed, to move forward on the acquisition of several tracts of land on Dunhill from Davis Street to Strawberry Road for the construction of the new police station, and to appropriate $785,000 for costs associated with the acquisition including appraisal fees, environmental research, commissioners fees, title policies and other closing costs.

The city council approved a $63,000 agreement with the Texas Automobile Theft Prevention Authority to fund an overtime program for the Pasadena Police Department to conduct proactive investigations to disrupt criminal activity.

The city council presented service awards to two employees of the Wastewater Collection Department, Manuel Martinez for 30 years of service and Roy DeLeon for 25 years of service.

Richard Lovell addressed the city council to express concern about a potential increase in water and sewer rates. He suggested that the city council consider a freeze on utility rates for senior citizens, similar to the recent freeze on ad valorem taxes, noting that the money "comes out of the same purse".

The Galveston Economic Development Partnership Board of Directors on July 21 approved a resolution of support for the BP LNG Terminal on Pelican Island.

"The GEDP has been monitoring and evaluating the proposed British Petroleum Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal on Pelican Island," said a news release issued on Thursday. "During this period, the executive committee has discussed environmental safety issues, economic impact projections, impacts to Galveston’s overall citizen and business quality of life and other issues related to this project."

The resolution said that the GEDP recognizes the importance of, and encourages, continued dialogue between the port, the city, BP and the citizens of Galveston.

"A project of this magnitude requires open discussion and continuous dialogue amongst all parties as the project moves through the federal review process of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission," the release said.

The GEDP also published a list of factors related to the endorsement. Factors

"The Port of Galveston has been charged with the challenge of redeveloping itself as a working, diversified, deep-water port," said the release. "For the port to be successful, and for the city to realize fully the positive economic impacts that remain the potential for our port, expansion and diversification of the port’s tenants and product mix is essential."

The release notes that the endorsement of the GEDP for the project is conditioned upon the continued relationship that BP has exhibited to date with the Galveston community.

"BP’s commitment to the health, safety and environmental concerns of Galvestonians must remain a priority and must consistently be demonstrated as they traverse their process of establishing this facility," said the release. "This caveat understood, and for the factors stated above, the Galveston Economic Development Partnership Supports the construction of the BP LNG terminal on Pelican Island."

Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson is traveling to Iraq, where he will visit with American soldiers from Texas.

Patterson will tour Baghdad, Fallujah, Kirkuk and Taji next week with John Furgess, Commander in Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Patterson will personally cover all expenses from the trip, but said that he plans to spend most of his time seeking out fellow Texans to inform them of the benefits available to them through the Texas Veterans Land Board.

"This is what I call outreach,” Patterson said. “I hope this visit will continue to remind Texans that today’s troops are tomorrow’s veterans. The VLB will be here for these brave men and women when they return."

The Galveston County Health District has announced changes in the hours of operations and fees charged for services at the district's animal shelter in Texas City.

“We have had many residents request that we be more available for adoptions and other services on weekends and evenings and we are going to do this by increasing these hours beginning the week of August 15,” said Michele Reynolds, manager of animal services at the district. “We would like to provide the public every opportunity to be able to visit our shelter and we hope that with the addition of weekend and weekday evening hours we will meet their needs.”

Effective August 15 for residents needing services such as animal redemptions, adoptions, pet surrenders and purchasing of county animal licenses, the shelter located at 3412 Loop 197 North in Texas City will be open Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Wednesday through Saturday, hours will be 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The shelter will be closed on Sunday and Monday.

In the event assistance is needed with stray animals or response to a dog bite Animal Control officers will be available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. On Saturdays assistance will be available from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The daily activities of the animal control officers, such as patrolling the community and monitoring the stray animal population, are conducted every day of the week with the exception of Sundays.

"To continue making these improvements the Galveston County United Board of Health recently updated fees for services provided at the shelter," said the news release.

The fee charged for impoundment of a resident’s animal will now be $35. The charge for daily boarding of an animal will be $10, and the adoption fee is $20. Other fees are also being updated.

“We are serious about working with the community to make sure we have a quality animal services program and have already made improvements," Reynolds said. "We hope these changes will continue moving us in the right direction.”

The Houston Airport System has issued a news release detailing its procedures for distributing local Amber Alerts at airports.

"Since July 1, the visual monitor systems at both George Bush Intercontinental and William P. Hobby airports have displayed vital information, both inside airport facilities and along the major access roads leading to them, about missing children in the Houston and Texas Gulf Coast area, or who may be on their way here from another part of the state and region," the release said. "The flight information display screens used by passengers and other airport visitors to check for flight arrival and departure status also provide Amber Alert information. It can also be seen on visual paging monitors, displaying the missing child's picture if available. "

The lighted message boards along John F. Kennedy Boulevard and Will Clayton Parkway, visible both to people coming to and leaving Bush Intercontinental, display the same information.

"As key ingress and egress points for Houston, our airports can play an important role in the Amber Alert communications network," said Richard Vacar, director Houston Airport System. "We are delighted to participate in this vital public service."

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County will sponsor a "neighborhood festival" to kick off the tax free shopping weekend from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, August 5, at the Gulfgate Transit Center, 7400 S. Loop East at Evergreen.

Themed “Bridging Communities” in recognition of the pedestrian bridge connecting the transit center and the Gulfgate Center mall, the festival will include drawings for gift cards from Gulfgate merchants, free food and refreshments, and activities for children.

"The festival is being held in conjunction with the grand opening of the Gulfgate Transit Center, which is served by the 5 Kashmere Gardens/Southmore, 36 Kempwood/Lawndale and 101 Hobby Airport Express (to be renamed and renumbered to the 88 Hobby Airport on August 14) routes," said a news release. "Financed with 80 percent federal funds and 20 percent local funds, the $2.1 million facility is the first Transit Center built under the METRO Solutions plan."

The Greater Houston Partnership will host a meeting with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe to discuss oil and gas investment opportunities at 5 p.m. on August 3 at the InterContinental Houston Hotel.

"President Uribe will lead a high-level delegation of Colombian energy officials and private sector executives focusing on investment opportunities available in Colombia for companies in diverse segments of the energy market," said a news release. "During a roundtable discussion, the group will present greenfield projects and expansion possibilities for existing operations across the hydrocarbons sector. Speakers will provide overviews of security improvements, its terms for oil and gas investors and specific new opportunities."

Harry R. “Skip” Kivel, senior maintenance superintendent at the George R. Brown Convention Center is retiring, effective this afternoon. Release and Photo

Kivel has spent 16 years coordinating the work crews that set up and clean up exhibit halls and meeting rooms, a critical task in a convention center that hosts multiple events simultaneously.

“Skip has set the bar high for others to follow,” GRBCC general manager Luther Villagomez said at a luncheon honoring Kivel. “He and his team are the unsung heroes who make sure events at the George R. Brown go off without a hitch.”

The Texas Southern University Debate Team, directed by Dr. Thomas Freeman will perform dramatic excerpts from Island of Color: Where Juneteenth Started, written by Galvestonian Izola E.F. Collins on Sunday, July 31 at 4:30 p.m. at the Old Central Cultural Center at 2627 Avenue M in Galveston.

"There is no charge for admission, and students of speech and drama are especially invited to attend to hear the remarkable talents of the Houston based debate team," said a news release.

Collins will be on hand to sign the second edition of the history book which will be presented for sale.

"This second edition of Island of Color continues the original story, with some corrections where necessary, additions of persons not in the first edition, and the continuation of the next generation of African Americans who have returned to Galveston to live," the release noted.

Scheduled Meetings
Meetings will be held in the regular meeting place of the city council or other governmental body, unless otherwise specified.

Today, July 29
7:30 My Fair Lady, Lamar Theater in the Performing Arts Center, 1700 Proctor Street, Port Arthur
8:00 Singing in the Rain, Bay Area Harbour Playhouse, 3803 Highway 3 in Dickinson
8:00 An Evening With Carol King, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
8:00 Seussical, The Musical, College of the Mainland Arena Theatre

Saturday, July 30
7:30 My Fair Lady, Lamar Theater in the Performing Arts Center, 1700 Proctor Street, Port Arthur
8:00 Singing in the Rain, Bay Area Harbour Playhouse, 3803 Highway 3 in Dickinson
8:00 Seussical, The Musical, College of the Mainland Arena Theatre

Sunday, July 31
2:30 Singing in the Rain, Bay Area Harbour Playhouse, 3803 Highway 3 in Dickinson
2:30 My Fair Lady, Lamar Theater in the Performing Arts Center, 1700 Proctor Street, Port Arthur
2:30 Seussical, The Musical, College of the Mainland Arena Theatre

Gulf Coast E-news, published by Guidry News Service, provides comprehensive coverage of posted public meetings in Galveston, Harris and Jefferson Counties as well as regional news impacting the Upper Texas Gulf Coast.

Jim and Lynda Guidry are publishers of Gulf Coast E-news and The Online News Station.

Heath Guidry is Galveston City Correspondent. Carl Guidry covers events in Jefferson County. Anita Donatto covers the education beat in Galveston. Patty Mayeux is editor of Gulf Coast E-news.

Robert John Mihovil is a special photographic correspondent for Guidry News Service

We are seeking to hire reporters & marketing agents to expand our coverage in Jefferson & Harris Counties.

Guidry News Service offices at 1818 Church Street, Suite 4, Galveston, TX. 77550 / P.O. Box 2130, Galveston, TX 77553
(409) 763-NEWS (6397), or email us at News@guidrynews.com

Subscriptions to Gulf Coast E-news are $300 per year, or $75 per quarter, plus sales and use tax.

This electronic newsletter replaced, and expanded on, the mission of the Galveston Fax, established by Jim and Lynda Guidry on Galveston Island in July 1996; and Clear Lake Area E-news, begun on January 2, 2002.


	The Guidry News
	© 1996, Guidry News Service Guidry News Service -- Dedicated to rapid, accurate presentation of area news since 1996.